Hull-cleaning machine for ships afloat



A ril 20, 1926.

N. MADSEN HULL CLEAN'LING MACHINE FOR SHIPS AFLOAT Original Filed Julyis. 1921 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 20 1926. 1,581,849

- N. MADSEN f HULL-CLEANING MACHINE FOR SHIPS AFLOAT Original Filed July 15, 1921 10 She ets-Sheet 2 April 20, 1926. 1,581,849

N. MADSE N HULL CLEANING; MACHINE FOR SHIPS AFLOAT Original Filed Ju y 1921 10 sheets'sheet 3 April 20 1926.

N. MADSEN HULL CLEANING MACHINE FOR SHIPS AFLOAT Original Filed July 15, 1921 I0 Sheets-Sheet 4 April' 20 1926.

N. MADSEN HULL CLEANiNGMAGHINB FOR smns AFLOAT Original med July 15,192; 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 N. MADSEN HULL CLEANING MACHINE FOR SHIPS. AFLOAT Original Fil y 1921 -10 Sheets-Sheet 6 April 20, 1926. 1,581,849

N. MADSEN .HULL GLEANINGMACHINE FOR SHIPS AFLOAT A ril 20, 1926. 1,581,849

Original Filed July 15, 1921 1o sheets-sheet v April 20, 1926.

N.MADSEN HULL CLEANING MACHINE FOR SHIPS AFLOAT Original Filed July 15. 1921 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 10 Shee'ts-SheQt 9 Original Filed July 15, 1921 IIICO lllll. T

N. MADSEN HULL CLEANING MACHINE FOR SHIPS AFLOAT April 20, 1926.

Apri 20,1926. 1,581,849

N. MADSEN HULL CLEANING MACHINE FOR SHIPS AFLOAT Original Filed July 15, 1921 10 Sheets-sheet 1o 1 K/Z/ WWW f atented Apr. 20, 1926.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NILS MADSEN, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

HULL-CLEANING MACHINE FOR SHIPS AFLOAT.

Application filed July 15, 1921, Serial No. 485,080. Renewed February 27, 1926.

T0 ail whom itmdy concern:

Be it known that I, NILS MADsEN, asubject of the King of Norway, and a resident of Los Angeles, in the county of Les Angeles, in the State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hull-Cleaning Machines for Ships Afloat, whereof the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cleaning machine applicable to ships afloat and operative below and'above the water line for re moving barnacles and other extraneous adhering matter tending to impede the movement of the ship.

The principal object of the invention is to avoid the delay and expense incident to dry-docking ships for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which is rapid, effective, and economical in the cleaning operation.

The machine comprises a power cleaning mechanism and a vacuum means for attaching and holding said mechanism in work ing position on the hull or surface to be cleaned. I

The machine comprises more in detail a power cleaning mechanism and an endless chain of articulated vacuum shoes adapted to hold the machine in. contact with the hull of the vessel, means adapted to pass said shoes along the bottom or side of the vessel, and pipes, valves and suction mechanism for Withdrawing the water and air from the spaces on the ships side inclosed by the shoes in contact therewith.

The machine may be embodied in various ways to traverse the hull vertically, horizontally or otherwise. It may be carried on or form a part of a submersible vessel or tank; and it may be towed by a companion boat or carried by and operated from a crane boat'which is secured by ropes to the ship to be cleanedand provided with spacing devices adapted to hold it in proper relation'to the ship during the cleaning operation. I

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevation of a fragment of a ship to be cleaned, a scow alongside, and this cleaning machine mounted on the scow and suspended therefrom in-positionfto operate vertically on the hull of the ship.-

' Fig. 2 represents a plan thereof, showing the spaced relation of the scow to the ship during the cleaning operation. 9

Fig. 3 represents an end elevation thereof.

Fig." 4, assuming the cleaning machine disposed in horizontal or floating position, represents a side elevation of the left hand portion thereof, the sprocket wheel hub beingin section.

Fig. 5 represents correspondingly a side elevation of the right hand portion thereof,

showing a fragment of the pipe for connecting said hub with the suction pump.

Fig. 6 represents correspondingly a view of the working face or plan of the left hand portion of the machine.

-Fig. 7 represents correspondingly a view of the working face or plan of the right hand portion of the machine.

Fig. 8 represents in its-central portion an end elevation thereof; at the left of said central portion, a transverse section on line 88 of Fig. 4, and at the right a transverse section on line 8 8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 represents 011 an enlarged scale a side elevation of one of the vacuum belt end runways and its elastic central support adapted for mounting on the hub of one of the sprocket Wheels. i

Fig. 10 representson an enlarged scale a transverse section thru the joint connecting the upper end of the left curved runway with the operative runway of said belt. T l

Fig. 11 represents on an enlarged scale a longitudinal. section of a fragment of a vacuum belt embracing a single vacuum shoe in its operative traverse between sprockets in contact with a surface to be cleaned, showing the suction valve open and the outlet valve closed, the suction current being thru the suction valve and thru the lateral shoe connectingpipes of the shoes of the sprocket wheels.

Fig. 12 represents on an enlarged scale a longitudinal section of the belt in the act of passing to or from a sprocket onto or off its operative run, both the shoe valves and the sprocket valve being open, andthc suction current passing thru the suction valve direct to the conjunctive sprocket and also thru the lateral shoe connecting pipes and shoes to the shoes in contact with the sprockets of the other sprocket wheel.

Fig. 1'3 represents on an enlarged scale a plan view of the working face of a fragment of a sole plate constituting a part of one of the vacuum shoes and a. fragment of a supplemental yieldable runway for connecting the shoes to the iiotable baser Fig. 14: represents on an enlarged; scale a side elevation partly in section of fragments of a vacuum belt,.sprocket,. operative runway and links connecting said runway with the return runwa Fig. 15 represents on an. enlarged scale a transverse section thrua vacuum belt, sprocket, runway and supplemental runway connected with the fiotable base, the shoe passing to or from the sprocket onto or off its return run and its, suction valve being therefore inclosed position under the action of its spring.

Fig. 16 represents on an enlarged scale a side elevation of a fragment of a supplemental return run-way connected with the flotable base for" suspending the latter from the vacuum belt or yieldingly connecting ittherewi'th.

The same reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the different 11 In the form of embodiment herein illustrated, the machine comprises a base, a brush cleaning mechanism mounted thereon, and a vacuum cleaning attaching mechanism flexibly connected" with said base.

The base A is, preferably. flotable and adapted for connection with a handling crane mounted on a scow or crane boat. In the form shown itv comprises two longitudinal buoyancy tan {S 10 and" 11 spaced apart in parallel relation, and cross inen'ibers 12 and 18 rigidly connecting said tanks at their opposite ends. The base is provided at one or both ends with a series of lugs 1% with which the tackling devices of the handling crane or companion boat may be connectec for towing the apparatus or for playing it up and down or otherwise against the side of the ship to be cleaned.

The tanlzsare preferably constructed of metal and of a size sufficient to maintain the buoyancy'of the base and the mechanism placed thereon. Standards 15 and 16 are oppositely secured respectively to the tanks- 11 and 10 adjacent to one end of the base and standards 17 and 118 are oppositely secured to said tanks adjacent to the other end of the base. A cross beam 19, preferably constructed of angle iron and. provided with a series of eyes 20 is rigidly securedat its opposite ends to the standards-15 and 16 and a similar cross beam 21 l'i-aving eyes 22' is rigidly secured at its opposite ends to the standards 17 and 18. An angular bracket 23 having a longitudinal shaft bearing 2 eand a: transverse shaft bearing 25 is centrally mounted on the cross -member 12 and a corresponding angular bracket 26 having" a longitudinal shaft bearing 27 and a transverse shaft bearing 28 is centrally mounted on the cross member 13. A central longitudinal shaft 30 which may be jointed or otherwise made flexible is supported near its opposite ends in the longitudinal bearings of the angular brackets 23 and 26 and disposed vertically above the space between the tanks.v This shaft is provided at its opposite ends with bevel gears 31 and 32 and near its opposite ends and; between its bearings with worms 38 and 84.

A motor 35 of any' suitable kind or construction for the purpose is mounted on the cross member 12 and has a driving shaft 36 supported in the transverse bearing of the angular bracket 23-. This driving shaft carries a bevel gear 37' whichmeshcs with and drives the bevel gear 31 fixed on the central longitudinal shaft 30.

A transverse brush shaft 40 is sup ported in bearings at theupper ends of the standards 15- and 16 and a similar brush shaft ell is supported in bearings at the upper ends of the standards 17 and 18; These brush shafts carry similar rotary scrubbing brushes and 43 composed of wirebristles or other suitable material and are provided at their outer ends with pulleys and 45 preferably in sprocket form. Short transverse shafts l6 and 17' (the first of which may be an extension of the driving shaft carry at their outer ends pulleys d8 and d9, prefera-bl-y in sprocket form, and sprocket or plain belts 48- and 49 connect said last named pulleys with the pulleys of the brush shafts. The shaft 46 is driven by its connection with the driving shaft of the motor and the shaft 47 is provided with a bevel gear 47 which meshes with and is driven by the bevel gear 82 of said longitudinal shaft, whereby motion is imparted to the rotary scrubbing brushes 42 and 131 ln the embodiment shown two endless vacuum belts B and G are disposed in parallel relation, spaced apart from each other and flexibly suspended or stretched between the cross beams 19 and 21. The belt l3 runs overvacuum sprocket pulleys D and E and the companion belt 0 runs over vacuum sprocket pulleys F and G? at" the opposition ends or turns of the belt. Suspension links 50 and 51 engage at their inner ends the hubs of each of these vacuum sprocket wheels and contractile spiral springs 52 connect said links with the cross beams 19 and 21 at opposite ends of the machine. wherebythe belts have a yielding or elastic connection with the base A. The hubs of the sprocket pulleys D and F are connected by an intermediate shaft 53 which carries worm wheel 54 and the hubs of the, sprocket pulleys E and- G are connected by an intermediate shaft which carries aworm wheel 56. The ends of the shafts may be angular and rest in angular sockets" of the hubs.

The worm wheel 54; is engaged and driven by the worm 38 on the central longitudinal shaft 30 and the worm wheel 56 is. engaged and driven by the worm 34 on said central D and E or F and G are turned forward 72 and 73. Sleeves 7 1 and 75 are mounted on these hub extensions on opposite sides of the central portion 70. These sleeves are provided with radial flanges 76 and 7 7 which have holes 7 8 for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The boss 71 is provided at its outer ends with an external screw-thread 79. A cap 80 is placed over the outer ends of the boss 7 2 and its sleeve 7 6 and a cap 81 is placed over the outer ends of the boss 7 3 and its sleeve 77. A pipe coupling 85 having a stufling box 86 isscrewed to the outer end of the outer boss 72 and a flexible pipe 87 connects the outer end of said coupling with a flexible pipe 88, which in turn connects with a longitudinal pipe 89 designed for connection with a suitable suction means. Eachsprocket spoke 71 has a skeleton or ring partition 90dividing it into an inner chamber 91 communicating with the hollow hub 70 and an outer chamber 92 communieating thrdugh' a central opening 93 in said partition with said inner chamber. The outer end of the spoke has a recessed nozzle 9 1 which is provided with a central stemway 95, gridiron ports 96 surrounding said stemway and a valve seat 97 having a packing 98 surrounding said ports. The inner face of the nozzle is also provided with a valve seat 99 surrounding said ports. A valve 100 having a stem 101 which slides in said stemway is provided on its outer face with a packing 102 adapted to rest on said inner valve seat. The stem of the valve 100 is provided with a contact cap 103 which when the valve is closed projects beyond the outer face of the packing 98 of the valve seat 97 A spiral spring 10 1 disposed between the skeleton partition 90 and I said valve 100, tends to keep said valve closed and to permit it to open under contact of the valve stems. The outer chamber 92 of the sprocketspoke is always open to the inner chamber 91 thereof thru the opening 93 in the partition 90. The inner chamber of each sprocket spoke communicates with the hollow hub 70 thereof and thence thru the hollow boss 72 thereof'and pipes hereinbefore referred to, with the air exhaust mechanism.v The outer chamber 92 of the sprocket spoke is opened to one of the vaccontact of said shoe with the sprocket spoke in the manner hereinafter described.

'uum' shoes of one of the vacuum belts by Each vacuumbeltis composed of a series of valved vacuum shoes hinged together to form an endlesschain, whereof each shoe constitutes a link. To provide for this connection each vacuum shoe is provided on one side edge with a pair of stud hinge lugs 111- and on its oppositeside edge with a pair of recessed hinge lugs 112.

The hinge lugs of one shoe are connected by pintles 113 with the companion lugs of the adjacent shoes to form an endless flexible vacuum belt. Each vaeuum shoe is. provided on itsrear face on one side of its center with a pair of brackets 114 and 11 1 and on the other side of its. center with a similar pair of brackets 115 and 115. (See Fig. 8). A short shaft 116 is supported in the brackets 114: anda short shaft 117 issupported in the bracket 1141". These shafts are in alinement but spaced apart at their inner ends. The shaft 116 carries between the brackets 114C and 1141 a trolley wheel 118 and at its outer end a wheel 119.

The shaft 117. carries between the brackets 11st and 114, a trolley wheel 118. A short shaft 116 is supported in one of the brackets 115 and a short shaft 117 is supported in the other bracket 115, said shafts being in alinement and spaced apart at their inner ends. a The shaft 116' is provided at its inner end with a trolley wheel 118" and at its outer end with-a wheel 119. The shaft 117 is provided at its outer end with a trolley wheel 117 Each shoe 110 comprises a suction or sole plate 120 for contact with the surface tobe cleaned, and a body in the form of a duplex valve chamber bolted or otherwise he tened to the back of said sole or contact plate; see Figs. 12 and 18. The sole plate 1 adapted to form water-tight joint with the 1 hull of the ship when the shoe is pressed against it. The sole plate is provided with a. central opening .122 which forms a stem-- way, and adjacent thereto with gridiron.

ports 123 and surrounding-said ports with (ill ' springs 164i, preferabl a valve seat 124: on its rear face. The duplex. valve chamber 130, bolted to the back;

ofsaid plate between the shafts 116 and 117 and their supporting brackets, covers said stemway' and ports. This chamber is divided by a skeleton partition 131 into an inner valve compartment 132 adapted to communicate wit-h the outer valve compartment 92 of a sprocket spoke, and an outer valve compartment 133 which is automatically opened to said inner compartment at the proper time by valve action. plex valve chamber is provided at its inner compartment with lateral outlet ports 13% and 185 at diametrically opposite points. Short flexible pipes 136, preferably in the form of hose, connect the outlet ports of adjacent vacuum shoes, unitingthem in a continuous series. This duplex valve chamher is shaped at one end into a tapered stud nozzle 137' adapted to engage the recessednozzle 9% of any one of the sprocket spokes.

This stud nozzle is provided with a central stemway 138-, gridiron ports 1239 around said stemway and an inner valve seat 1% surroundingsaid ports. An outlet valve 1411 having a stem M2 which slides in said stemway is disposed in the inner comparb merit 132. This valve is provided with an annular packing H3 which rests onv salt valve seat when the valve is closed. The valve is held normally closed by an expansive spring 144L- disposed between it and the skeleton partition 131. The stem of the valve 141 is provided with a contact cap 145 which extends beyond the one of a stud nozzle 13? when the valve is closed and is actuated as hereinafter described to open said valve. A suction valve 1% dis posed in the outer compartment is operative to close and open the gridiron ports of the sole plate 120. This valve has a stem L17 which plays in the stemway 122 of the shoe, and an annular packing 1&8 which rests on the valve seat 12% when the valve is closed. An expansive spiral spring; 149 disposed between the skeleton partition 131 and the valve 146 tends to hold the latter to its seat. The stem 14'? is provided at its outer end with: a contact cap 150 which normally projects beyond the plane of the packing or sealing ring 121 and causes the valve to open against the tension of its spring when the shoe is pressed into contact with the ship hull to be cleaned.

Means are provided for flexibly connecting or support: 153; the base with or from For this purpose the the endless belts. tanks: 10 and ll are provided at intervals along their opposite sides with upright brackets 160, each. bracket having inturned lugs 161 and 162 spaced apart vertically and vertical guidev-Jay between said lugs. Upward, springs 163 and similar downward "r in semi-ellipticform The duare attached to, the; respective lugs: afore said. Straight. longitudinal channel beams" 1.65 and 166. with their channels facing inward are disposed in' the opposite brackets:

between; these springs: and are freely movable up and down, subject to the tension of said springs, within the spaces between said lugs.

Endless trackways are provided for the traverse, guidance and: support of the end less vacuum belts. There are four of these trackways, H and. l. for the belt B: and J and 1:: for the belt C. The trackway H threaded along the: vacuum shoes 110- on the outer side oft-he valve chambers 130 between the brackets 11-l and the trackway I is threaded; along: the same vacuum shoes on the other side of said chambers between the brackets 115. The trackways J- and K are likewise threaded along the belt on opposite sides of its valve chamber. These the lower ends ofthe curved trolley beami 170 and 171 with the lower ends of the curved trolley beams:172 and 173- and constitute the straight return runway for the 'acuum belt 13. Straight flexible trolley beams 176 and 177' connect the upper ends of the curved trolley beams 170 and 1. 1 with the upper ends of the curved: trolley beams 172 and 173 and constitute the operative runway for the vacuunr belt, B.

Each, curved trolley beam is: "ll-shaped in cross section and comprises ax central web (1., track rails 71 and c spaced therefrom on opposite sides thereof by sleeves-(Z and c, and all connect by bolts 7". The; web a is provided at intervals with eyes 1- and a series of. radiall Y di'sooscd contractile: s )iral springs 180 are connected at, their outer ends with the holes 7 8 in the radial flanges 7G and 77 of the hubs of the vacuum sprocket pulleys. a

aid endless trackways and permit. a yielding thereof with relation to-thc belts. The straight trolley beams or tracks are each preferably composedv of parallel links 72 of' thin bar metal set cdgrewise and connected by sleeves and bolts as shown in; 10. The trolley wheels 1 18 and 11S ride, on the inner surfaces or inner edges of said tracks. The operative and returner upper and lower straight trolley tracks are conith, the space between the pairs ofi.

r 1 .Lhesc splin s support nected by a series of suspension links 185 and in the traverse of the vacuum belt these suspension links are passed in the spaces between the shafts 116 and 117, which are supported respectively in the pairs of brackets 114: and 115 on the vacuum shoes.

As either vacuum belt travels around in its endless course over its supporting sprocket wheels all the vacuum shoes 110 which are passing between said wheels,-ineluding those of the operative as well. as tho:;e of the return run, have their outlet valves 141-1 closed by their springs 144; the suction valves 146 which are passing over the sprocket wheels and between said wheels on the return run are closed; the outlet valves 141 which are passing over the sprocket wheels are. open by contact with the valves 100 of said wheels; and the suction valves 1 16 of the operative run between the sprocket wheels are open by contact with the surface to be cleaned. In such case the water or air drawn from the surface of the ship within the suction chambers of the vacuum shoes in contact therewith enters the outer valve chambers 133 thru the gridiron ports and the open suction valves 146 of the operating series of shoes; thence passes thru the skeleton partition 131 into the inner chambers 132 of said series of shoes; thence passes in opposite directions thru the connecting pipes 136 of said operating series to the outer chambers of those vacuum shoes which are passing around the sprocket wheels; thence thru the open outlet valves 141 of said chambers and the open inlet valves 100 of those sprocket spokes which are in engagement with the belt into the hollow spoke of said wheels; thence to the hollow hubs thereof; thence thru saidhubs to pipes 86 and thence thru the pipes 87, 88. and 89 to the suction pump.

The suspension links 185 in their rela tion to the tanks furnish an inward pull that will insure suitable thrust for the scrubbing brushes 42- and 4:3 to do their work. 'The buoyancy tanks 10 and 11 are of sufiicient capacity to float the entire apparatus.

Figure 1 illustrates themachine as operated from a crane boat and worked up and down on the side of a ship in a traverse extending above the water line. The crane boat L is held to the ship to be cleaned by a shifting rope or cable 190 and spaced from said ship by spacers 191 and 192. The rope 19 0 of Wire or other material is detachably connected at its opposite ends to the'deck of the ship to be cleaned, as at the point 193, and passed over pulleys 194 at one end of the crane boat, over a drum 195, pulleys 196 and 197 on opposite sides of said drum and apulley 198 and 199 at the other end of said boat.

A crane 200 is mounted on the crane boat and provided with means for carrying and operating hoistingcables 201 and other 1 means for manipulating the bell crank lever is connected with the arm 220 thereof and the dependent arm 221 is provided with rollers 222 and 223 which engage the cleaning machine and press it against the hullof the ship, forcing the operative runs of the vacuum belts into contact with the surface to be cleaned and therebyopening the stems of the valves of the sole plates of the vacuum shoes, thus establishing communication between the air pumps and the vacuum recesses and binding the belts tot-he s'hips side by pneumatic or. hydraulic suction. The motor is then started giving motion to the vacuum belts B and C. The machine follows the side of the ship a suitable distance .downward, then the motor is reversed and the machine works its way upward to its starting point, along the path it made going downward. Then the vacuum is broken, releasing the vaccuum belts from their vacuum attachment to the side of the ship; then the machine is shifted to its next space by moving the crane boat along the ship, the

vacuum reestablished and the handling operation repeated. By this adjustment the same surface may be' scrubbed four times by an apparatus havingtwo brushes, in one upward and downward movement thereof, the adjustment along the ship at each movement of the appamtus being equal to the length of-the brushes. .7

This machine may be used for cleaning the hulls ofvessels in dry docks as well as afloat.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cleaning machine comprising an end less belt of vacuum shoes adapted to make vacuum contact with the surface to be cleaned, and. an endless trackway for said belt.

2. The combination of a cleaning mechanism, a flexible series of vacuum shoes adapt ed to make vacuum Contact with the hull of a vessel, pipes, valves and suction mechanism connected with said shoes and adapted to withdraw water or air from'the spaces on said hull inclosed thereby, and means adapted to move said shoes under suction along said hul1.. I I 3. The combination of a cleaning mechanism, a flexible series of vacuum shoes adapted to make vacuum contact with the hull of a 'vessel, pipes, valves andsuctioninechanisin connected with :said shoes :and adapted to Withdraw Water or air from the spaces on said lhull inclosed thereby,;mcans adapted to move said shoes under suction along said hull, and means-forfshifting the position of said series on said hull.

4,. lnza machine of :the character described the combination of a .flota'ble base, a Thrush (cleaning mechanism mounted thereon,:a vacscum attaching m'ec lmnisru mounted "thereon, :and means for simultaneously operating said mechanisms.

5. The combination of :a ship hull cleaning machine comprising :a (cleaning mechanism, :a. vacuum attaching anec'hairrism hawing ea flexible series of vacuum shoes, :and :a tack- .lnrg mechanism operatiiwe to project s aid an aichine 'to a ship hull.

(i. The combinationiof a ship lirull c'loanin g anachinc comprising a cleaning; mechanism, a vacuum attaching lfllOC lli, tism hating 'a flexible series of vacuum :shoes, 1a tackling mechanism operative to proj ect said run-- chine to fiL'SlIlP hull, and meanstor:slriifting said machine :into different positions along said hull.

Z. In a an aiolrinre 0f rthcch aracter described, the combination (of sprocket Wheels having .lzrollow spokes provided with valves, amend-- less 'Ma'cuu m attaching abelt comprisin :a tee ries of vacuum shoes hinged together, and flexible Tpipes connecting said shoes, .sa-i'd :shoes "having :sucti'on tsole plates for pneu- Inaitic contact with the surface to be cleaned and normally closed valves opened by such content, and said lrollouv sprocket spokes ilravizng normally closed values opened by contact of said vacuum shoes, suction mechanism connected with said sprocket spokes, and means for supporting said sprocket Wheels.

8. In a machine of thecharacter described the combination of sprocket Wheels having 1h l'oav fspokes provided with values, an endil ,ss' vacuum attaching belt "comprising fa iseries of vacuum shoes hinged together and adapted to form pneumatic contact with the surface to be cleaned, :and flenihl'e pipes connecting said shoesi; :said shoes having nor- :mally closed valves opened by said surface contact a nd said hollow sprocket :sp okes rh aving normally closed valves opened by contact of said vacuum shoes, "suction mechanism connected with said *sprccket spokes, means for supporting said sprocket wheels, and an endless trackavay for :said vacuum belt.

9-; In :a machine of the character described the :combination :of sprocket Wheels having :l'ro'llowvispokes provided with valves, endless vacuum attaching belt comprising a series of vacuum shoes hinged together and adapted -to "form pneumatic contact with the surface to be cleaned, and flexible pipes connecting said shoes; said shoes having nor mally closed valves opened by said surface cont-act'andsaid hollow sprocket spokes having normally closed valves opened by contact of said vacuum shoes, suction mechanism connected with sa d sprocket spokes, and yielding supporting means for said sprocket wheels.

10. In a machine of the character described the combination of sprocket Wheels having hollow spokes provided with valves an endless wacu'unrattaching belt comprising a series of vacuum shoes hinged together and adapted to form pneumatic contact with the surface to be cleaned, and flexible pipes connecting said shoes; said shoes having normally closed valves opened by said surface contact and said :ho'llow sprocket spokes having normally closed valves open- :ed by contact of said vacuum shoes, suction mechanism connected With said sprocket spokes, means for supporting said sprocket wheels, an endless trackway for said vacuum belt, and yielc ing connections between said sprocket Wheels and said traclmvay.

11. In a machine of the character described the combination (of a base comp-risii ng tanks spaced apart in parallel relation and rigidly connected, frames at opposite ends of said 'RSC, transverse shafts, yield- :in'g supports connecting said shafts with said frames, sprocket Wheels disposed onsaid shafts and provided With hollow spokes, an endless belt 'of valved vacuum shoes carried by said sprocket wheels and :aiutomaticaly operatic-e by contact with the su face :to be cleaned, flexible :pi'pes connecting :said :shoes, .qlormally closed valves in said rshoes :actuated by contact With :the surface to 1136 cleaned, normally closed vallves iin saiid hollow sprocket-s actuated by contact of said vacuum shoes, and suction :demices connecting with said sprocket wheels.

'12. In a machine of the cha'acter described the combination of :a base comprising ztanks :spaced apart in parallel relation and rigidly connected, frames. :at opposite ends *of said base, rotary brushes supported in said frames, a longitudinal shaft, :and transmitting mechanisms connecting ropposite ends :of said longitudinal shaft with said brushes.

13.In a machine of :the character de scribed the combination of a base, tramesat carried by said sprocket 'wheels and operative 'by contact with the surface to be cleaned, flexible pipes GODllGC'ElngStUd shoes, worm Wheels on said transverse shafts, a flexible I longitudinal shaft provided With 'WOlIllSGlldili ,on said transverse shafts between their respective sprocket wheels, a. flexibl longitudinal shaft disposed between said belts and provided with worms engaging said worm wheels, and suction devices connected with said sprocket wheels.

15. In a machine of the character described thecombination of a base, frames disposed apart thereon, transverse shafts, yielding supports connecting said shafts with said frames, sprocket wheels disposed on said shafts and provided with hollow spokes, an endless belt of valved vacuum shoes carricd by said sprocket wheels, endless trackways on opposite sides of said sprocket wheels, yielding connections between said endless belts and the hubs of the sprocket wheels, and suction devices connecting with said sprocket wheels.

16. In a device of the character described the combination of vacuum sprocket wheels, suction devices connected therewith, an endless belt of valved vacuum shoes carried by said sprocket wheels and provided with a pair of shafts spaced apart in alinement, each carrying a trolley wheel, and an endless trackway comprising curved end trolley beams having parallel tracks and central webs which are passed between said shafts during the movement of said endless belt and longitudinal trolley beams connecting said curved trolley beams.

17. In a device of the character described the combination of vacuum sprocket wheels, suction devices connected therewith, an endless bclt of valved vacuum shoes carried by said sprocket wheels and provided with two pairs of shafts, the shafts of each pair being spaced apart in alinement, and each carrying a trolley wheel, and endless trackways comprising curved end trolley beams having parallel tracks and central webs which are passed between said shafts during the movement of said endless belts and longitudinal trolley beams connecting the curved trolley beams of said trackways.

18. In a device of the character described the combination of vacuum sprocket wheels, suction devices connected therewith, an endless belt of valved vacuum shoes carried by said sprocket wheels and provided with a pair of shafts spaced apart in alinement, each carrying a trolley wheel, and an endless trackway comprising curved end trolley beams having parallel tracks and central webs which are passed between said shafts during the movement of said endless belt and longitudinal trolley beams composed of jointed sections connecting saidv curved trolley beams.

19. In a device of the character described the combination of vacuum sprocket wheels, suction devices connected therewith, an endless belt of valved vacuum shoes carried by said sprocket wheels and provided with a Jair of shafts saaced a nut in alinement,

each carrying a trolleywheel, an endless trackway comprising curved end trolley beams having parallel tracks and central webs which are passed between said shafts duringthe movement of said endless belt and longitudinal trolley beams composed of jointed sections connecting said curved trolley beams, and links connecting the upper and lower longitudinal trolley beams, said links being passed between said shafts during the movement of the endless belt.

20. In a machine of the character described the combination of a base pr vided on opposite sides with yielding runways, vacuum sprocket wheels, suction devices connected therewith, an endless beltof valved vacuum shoes carried by said sprocket wheels and provided with shafts carrying sprocket wheels and supplemental wheels adapted to engage said yielding runways, and an endless trackway comprising curved end trolley beams and longitudinal trolley beams on which said trolleys travel.

21. A machine of the character described comprising rotary cleaning brushes disposed apart from each other, anda flexible endless attaching belt of vacuum shoes disposed between said brushes. 7

22. In a machine of the character described a valved vacuum shoe adapted to form a link in an endless vacuum belt and provided with a sole plate having a recessed contact face provided with a sealing ring adapted to form pneumatic contact with the surface to be cleaned.

23. In amachine of the character described a vacuum shoe adapted to form a link in an endless vacuum belt and provided with a sole plate having a recessed contact face provided with a sealing ring adapted to form pneumatic contact with the surface to be cleaned, and with an automatic valve having, a stem projecting beyond said sealing ring and adapted to be pressed open by contact of said face with the said surface.

24;. In a machine of the character described, a vacuum shoe adapted to form a link in an endless vacuum belt and provided with a sole plate having a recessed. contact face provided with'a sealing ring adapted to form pneumatic contact with the surface to be cleaned, and with a duplex valve chamher provided with spring seated valves having projecting stems adapted for exterior contacts to open said valves.

25. In a device of the character described the combination of sprocket wheels having hollow spokes provided with spring seated valves having projecting actuating stems, and an endless vacuum belt comprising a series of vacuum shoes hinged together and respectively provided with suction sole plates and duplex valve chambers carrying spring seated valves having projecting stems, the projecting stem of one of said valves being actuated by engagement with the surface to be cleaned and the projecting stem of the other valve being actuated by engagement with the projecting stem of the SPlUfifkGll spoke.

26'. In a machine of the character d-e scribed the combination of sprocket wheels having hollow spokes provided with recessed nozzles and spring seated valves having projecting actuating means and an endless vacuum belt comprising a series of vacuum shoes hinged together and respectively provided with suction sole plates and duplex valve chambers having stud nozzles and being provided with spring seated valves having projecting stems, the projecting stems of one series of said valves being actuated by engagement with the surface subjected to the cleaning operation and the projecting stems of the other series of said valves being actuated by engagement with the projecting stems of the sprocket spoke valves.

27. A machine of the character described comprising rotary cleaning brushes, and a flexible endless attaching belt of vacuum shoes disposed adjacent to said brushes.

28. A machine of the character described comprising a rotary cleaning brush, and a flexible endless attaching belt of vacuum shoes disposed adjacent to said brush.

29. A machine of the character described, wmprising a cleaning means, and a flexible endless attaching belt of vacuum shoes disposed adjacent to said cleaning means.

NILS MADSEJ. 

